Studland

Studland

Sand dunes and sheltered waters

Studland is a glorious slice of natural coastline with four-miles of golden sands and a heathland backdrop straight from the pages of a Thomas Hardy novel.

Studland Bay and village is naturally inspiring. Enid Blyton used it as the basis for Noddy’s ‘Toytown’. Gently shelving waters give way to glorious views of Old Harry Rocks, the gateway to Dorset’s Jurassic coast. Hire a kayak to get a closer view.

The sheltered waters of Studland Bay are ideal for water sports. Sailing, kite surfing, paddle boarding and diving are popular. Studland Watersports at Knoll Beach hire out equipment and also offer powerboat-based activities including wake boarding, waterskiing and banana rides. www.studlandwatersports.co.uk

A designated section of Studland Beach is probably the best known naturist beach in Britain. The 900m area of Knoll Beach is well marked with signs and posts. So no need to avert your eyes! There are beach cafes, casual dining and fine dining. The Banks Arms welcome walkers with a roaring open fire during the winter months. However, nature trails through the sand dunes and woodlands along with the walk to Old Harry Rocks is a favourite at any time of the year.

Our Reviews

The Telegraph Travel

The high number of repeat visitors is testament to the charm of this site, which has 130 pitches, close to the sandy delights of the beaches at Studland Bay, a short drive away and the proximity of excellent cycle paths means it is worth bringing children's bikes. Corfe Castle and Swanage are just six miles away. Facilities include showers, washing machines, baby-changing facilities and a small shop stocking camping and cooking equipment.

The Guardian

Burnbake - Corfe Castle, Dorset

Burnbake is devoted to good, old-fashioned fun. The big draw is the woods that surround the site, where children often disappear for hours on end, discovering the joys of swinging on ropes and building dens.

Top-of-primary kids in particular have a ball here, living a Swallows and Amazons existence while you chill out round your campfire (off-the- ground fires only), beer in hand.

There's an excellent shop on site and a yurt pizza outlet in high season all of you will relish. The beautiful three-mile-long beach at Studland Bay is close at hand, and Swanage has lots of old-fashioned seaside activities including putting, tennis and bowls, and a couple of great fish-and-chip shops.

Daily Mail

Burnbake Camping Site, Dorset

The vibe: Full-on family escapades.

Highlights: This is the camp for those with children who enjoy fresh-air and mud. It sits snugly in a forest, beside a stream. Bring your bikes for family jaunts on the many cycle paths; likewise, buckets and spades for the nearby Blue Flag beaches in Swanage and Studland. The South-West coast path is close, as is beautiful Corfe Castle.